LEADING THE WAY OUT OF THE EU

The Times: It’s party time for the Bad Boys of Brexit

19 January 2017

They are known as the bad boys of Brexit and after using the EU referendum campaign to kick sand in the face of the establishment, they are now poised to take Washington by storm.

Nigel Farage, the former Ukip leader, Arron Banks, the Leave campaign financer, and Andy Wigmore, his right-hand man, are set to host a glittering party in the US capital to celebrate the presidential inauguration.

The trio have invited 400 guests to a lavish reception the night before Donald Trump is sworn in, having hired the top floor of the five star Hay-Adams hotel, overlooking the White House, for the event.

Among the few foreign figures to back Mr Trump during his bid for the presidency, the trio first travelled to the US last summer to join the Republican nominee on the campaign trail after their referendum success in June.

Mr Farage and his two allies reaped the rewards of their loyalty by being the first Britons invited to Trump Tower in New York to see the tycoon after he won the election in November, beating Theresa May and many other world leaders to an audience.

Now they hope to goad No 10 and the UK’s official representation in the US again by welcoming Mr Trump as the guest of honour at their party to celebrate his inauguration as the 45th leader of the United States tomorrow.

The president-elect’s cabinet nominees are on the guest list, along with about 100 senators, governors and congressmen. The Brexiteer group are confident of a good turnout among the new US administration, with one wag among the organisers quipping: “To be honest, I don’t think there are many other good parties going on for them to go to.”